Footwear identification plate



Nov. 4, 1952 w. F. SMITH FOOTWEAR IDENTIFICATION PLATE Filed July 1, 1948 INVENTOR. William F- Smith ATTORNEY S.

FIG. 3.

Patented Nov. 4, 1952 UNI TED STATES 9 F F j-I CFE zrop'rweemmsnrmosrrrongamma WilliamI.iSmith, Minneauolis,,-Minn. apmicatienamiyu, 194s, seriarnaisaeve i1 '"fl'hisiin-vention' relates to "attachmentsziforifootwear and more particularly to attaching means which may be-quickly-applied'-toor--removed from footwear for temporarily :secnring identification plates :torrnther .devices .to :the zundersidesof tthe thankqofza 'shoe or boot .wornrbyihunterszaadisclosed in my copending application titled Hunters Identification Footwear, Ser. No. 20,477, filed April 12, 1948, and on which the present invention constitutes an improvement.

As indicated, the object of this invention is to provide simple and novel attaching means primarily intended for quickly securing an identification plate under the shank Of footwear, and removing the same for transfer to another shoe or boot.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will appear in the following detailed description of a highly satisfactory embodiment of my invention, taken in connection with the accompanying drawing, forming a part of this specification, and in which drawing:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a boot lying on its side with an identification plate attached thereto by attaching means made in accordance with my invention.

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the boot in an upright position and illustrating the application of the attaching means thereto.

' Fig. 3 is a top plan view of the identification plate showing the attaching means connected therewith.

In my application Ser. No. 20,477 above referred to I have disclosed, by way of example, the identification plate secured to the underside of the shank of the footwear by means of nails, tacks, or

the like which has its advantages, however when.

it is desired to change such a plate from one boot or shoe to another frequently such securing means has its disadvantages. Therefore in accordance with the present invention I provide improved securing means which permit the identiquick y attachable and detachable fastenings, means comprising metallic links I 2, preferably of; wire, and a flexible tieing strap 1 3, such as a. shoe lace, a thong or textile strap, by way of v example.

,. Plate u is shown as bearing identification indicia rand :other features many rdescrihd z-in prior application. in :the :present instantthe links UZZEEIIYBJLEBLChE'PIDVidGd :withteyes I5 and: lfiean'd if time links :are :of ':wire, they are {threaded ithnu the :apertures M at :the LQOFHETS :of .:plate Eli sand twistedupontthemselvesatoprovide.firstaeyes:Hizas shown in Figs. 1 and 2. These links extend beyond the edges of the sole of the boot and are each bent to extend upwardly, terminating in similar second eye It at the upper portion of the side of the boot vamp, or, in other words, at a height on the boot upper suflicient to be beyond the usual depth the boot penetrates in mud or the like when in service.

The strap I3 has its intermediate portion detachably secured to eyes l6, as shown by halfhitch knots I! so as to hold the plate in an adjusted position in accordance with the size of the footwear ID to which the plate is to be attached. As shown strap I3 is secured to these links in a manner to provide a loop [8 for engagement over the top of the instep portion of the footwear upper and the ends I9 and 20 on the opposite side when tied at 2| provide a loop 22 which engages around the upper part of the counter or heel portion of the boot, although if desired the loops may be reversed. Thus the attaching means provide a secure attachment for the identification plate which may be quickly removed or changed to different footwear when desired.

Having described an embodiment of my invention which has proven highly satisfactory what I claim as my invention and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. As an article of manufacture, a rectangular identification plate bearing indicia to be impressed in the ground by the wearer of footwear to which the plate is applied at the underside of the shank of the sole thereof, said plate provided with an aperture therethrough adjacent each corner portion thereof; and means removably securing said plate against the said sole shank with its apertured corner portions adjacent the edges of the shank, comprising a wire connected to said plate each of said apertures, having its one end portion extending through its respective aperture and. twisted upon itself to form a first eye and its other end portion twisted upon itself to form a second eye, said Wires extending laterally with respect to said plate beneath the sole and upwardly across the sides of the vamp of the footwear with their second eyes adjacent to the upper portions of vamp, and a strap having its intermediate portion trained through and detachably tied to said second eyes holding the wires in spaced relationship and providing loops disposed over and in engagement with the upper of the footwear, when applied thereto and the end portions of the strap are secured together.

2. An an article of manufacture, a rectangular identification plate bearing indicia to be impressed in the ground by the wearer of footwear to which the plate is applied at the underside of the shank of the sole thereof, said plate provided with an aperture therethrough adjacent each corner portion thereof; and means removably securing said plate against the said sole shank with its apertured corner portions adjacent the edges of the shank, comprising a link connected to said plate at each of said apertures by a first eye at one end portion, extending through its respective aperture and provided with a second eye at its other end portion, said links extending laterally with respect to said plate beneath the sole and upwardly across the sides of the vamp of the footwear with their second eyes adjacent to the upper portions of the vamp, and a strap having its intermediate portion trained through and detachably tied to said second eyes holding the links in spaced relationship and providing loops disposed over .4 and in engagement with the upper of the footwear when applied thereto and the end portions of the strap are secured together.

WILLIAM F. SMITH.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 438,179 Quarrie Oct. 14, 1890 990,883 Kunz May 2, 1911 1,175,660 Pinto Mar. 14, 1916 1,205,337 Donath Nov. 21, 1916 1,391,175 Edwards Sept. 20, 1921 1,528,819 Engel Mar. 10, 1925 1,596,832 Heinemann Aug. 17, 1926 1,655,326 Montine Jan, 3, 1928 1,728,783 Chase Sept. 1'7, 1929 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 328,408 Germany Nov. 3, 1920 551,180

France Jan. 2, 1923 

